Document 114468

after graduation. While I loved London, being born and
raised in Sarnia with its beautiful beaches and tight knit
community had a life long impact on me. I just couldn’t
picture leaving this city behind - I’m here for life.
After receiving my Bachelor of Arts from Western, I
returned home to begin what would hopefully be a
lifelong career in the financial industry. I began my
journey at the CIBC bank as first a Personal Banker
and then a Financial Advisor in Petrolia. While at CIBC,
I achieved my Mutual Funds designation and assisted
clients in broadening their investment portfolio with
mutual funds. It was exciting to know that I could provide
clients with valuable advice to assist in their financial
planning goals.
Jennifer Hanly
My story begins right here in Sarnia and never veers far
from our beautiful city. I was born in Sarnia and raised to
earn every dollar and appreciate every penny. From an
early age, my father tried to get my brother and I at least
interested, if not involved in finances and budgeting.
While I was more interested in sports at the time, I
always listened to what dad had to say. As soon as I
turned 16, I was itching to enter the workforce and have
been working ever since.
It was when I went off to University in London that my
real interest in finances began. Perhaps it was due
to the never-ending stream of bills I was personally
responsible for; or it could have been my everdecreasing cash flow. Whatever the reason, I took a
keen interest in financial planning.
It was also in University that I met the man I was
destined to marry, my husband Ryan. Fate would have
it that he, too, was a fellow Sarnia resident and, after
much contemplating, I decided to move back home
From CIBC, I accepted a position with Freedom 55
Financial as a Financial Advisor. It was there that I
successfully completed the Life License Qualification
Program and further developed my skills as an Advisor.
With an increasing interest in financial planning, I
enrolled in the Certified Financial Planner (CFP)
designation and began the challenging, but extremely
valuable process towards becoming certified.
My career path has now brought me to Southwest
Regional Credit Union where I know I have found home.
I have found the support and encouragement within the
Credit Union to grow and develop in a career I truly enjoy
– and the members are certainly the icing on the cake!
In my short time at the Credit Union, the members and
staff have already made me feel welcome and part of the
community. It is here, within the Credit Union that I begin
a rewarding career serving our members and working
within the community.
I continue to work towards my CFP designation to
better assist and advise our members in their financial
endeavors. I will be based out of the Sarnia office and
am ready to serve our membership with innovative
investment solutions.
Looking for a new
or used car?
Contact your Financial Solution Specialist today to
inquire about our GREAT RATES!
The Sunny Side of Finance • Spring 2009
From the General Manager’s Desk:
Southwest Regional’s Economic Update
Everyone has been impacted by the current financial
crisis. Financial markets continue to slide in reverse,
consumer demand both domestic and globally remains
weak and rates continue to fall in an effort to simulate the
economy. Many financial institutions, including Credit
Unions, are not immune to the economic climate. Most
financial institutions are financially strong and they will
weather the storm reasonably well but they will need
to address certain issues, most notably will be financial
margin. Financial margin is defined as the difference
between the member’s borrowing costs and what the
financial institution pays it depositors for their deposits
so that they in turn can lend that money out to their
borrowers. The profit is used to pay expenses and build
reserves.
Borrowing rates are primarily determined by the Bank of
Canada Prime Rate. Governments have been lowering
this rate in an effort to stimulate consumer spending. The
current Bank of Canada Prime Rate is 2.5%. This is a
record low.
Due to shrinking margins, many institutions have begun
to make changes to how they determine what the
borrowing rates will be. They have gone in one of two
directions. Some have created their own “bank prime”
rate and others continue to use the Bank of Canada but
have now added a bonus to the rate. There are even
situations where institutions have implemented both of
the changes simultaneously.
When reviewing what your borrowing options are, please
be sure to do the following:
1. Question the rate. Are you quoted a rate based on the
Bank of Canada Prime Rate or the Financial Institution
Sarnia
Corunna
Wyoming
Wallaceburg
1205 Exmouth St. Upper Level
Sarnia, ON N7S 1W7
411 Lyndock Street
Corunna, Ont. N0N 1G0
618 Broadway Street,
Wyoming, Ont. N0N 1T0
60 McNaughton Ave. County Fair Mall
Wallaceburg, Ont. N8A 1R9
519-383-8001
519-862-1421
519-845-3362
519-627-6744
Sunspot • Spring 2009
Prime Rate? This applies to all lending products
including Home Equity Lines of Credit, Education Loans
and Student Lines of Credit.
2. Question if interest rebates will be paid. Credit Union
members receive interest rebates. Interest rebates is
a portion of the Credit Union profits given back to it’s
members. Credit Union members are entitled to rebates
because they are the owners of the institution.
3. Question if free banking is available. Don’t be
confused by flat fee services. Question if the service is
absolutely cost free.
Southwest Regional Credit Union is financially strong
and our business model is envied by others. We have
the resources available to help you personally manage
the current economic crisis. Our lending rates are based
on the Bank of Canada Prime Rate. We have a sound
history of paying our members interest rebates and we
make free banking available to our membership through
our Ultra Benefit account. We invite you to take a few
moments to talk to our representatives to review the
ways we can help you save money. Our advice is free
and we would love the opportunity for you to experience
banking just like it use to be. Serving People
with People since 1939.
* All rates are effective as of April 6, 2009 and are
subject to change.
Southwest Regional Credit Union
is celebrating
70of “Serving
yearsPeople
with People”
Friday July 24, 2009
You are all invited to
join our festivities.
More details will be
announced in the
next newsletter.
In 1992, I decided to re-enter the workforce and was
fortunate enough to be hired by Imperial Credit Union
Ltd. in their Loan Department. This was the beginning of
a long and fulfilling career in the Credit Union system.
I was the Loan Officer at the Imperial Branch of
Southwest until December 1997 at which time I was
promoted to the Corunna Branch as their Branch
Manager. I came to the Exmouth Branch as their Branch
Manager in November of 2002.
Patty Levack
My career started in the financial industry in 1974 at
the young age of 17. Just two weeks after graduating
Grade 12, I was hired as a teller for Lambton Loan &
Investment. A year later, I applied and was transferred
to the Mortgage Department as their Payments Clerk.
About a year later, I applied and became their Assistant
Mortgage Officer. I worked in this capacity until the fall of
1983 when I resigned after the birth of my second son.
For the next nine years, my life was full as a stay at
home Mom. Life was busy with volunteering at the boy’s
school for Hot Dog/Pizza lunches and chaperoning many
field trips. I was also driver to all their extra activities and
sports, and can’t forget all the homework and fundraisers
for the field trips.
During my 16+ years with Southwest Regional Credit
Union Ltd. I have had the pleasure of working at 3 of
their branches. I have worked with the best co-workers
ever and the most wonderful of members. We recently
hired a new Full-time Teller at the Exmouth Branch and
I came to find out that I was her Mother’s supervisor in
the Mortgage Department of Lambton Loan & Investment
and was now her supervisor at Southwest Regional
Credit Union Ltd.
Some say I am too young to retire but at that moment I
felt old. So it is with a heavy heart to be retiring with over
26 years in the financial industry as the Credit Union
family has become a second family to me and I will miss
everyone dearly. I am looking forward to spending more
time with my family and planning more cruises/vacations
with my husband. Next time you see me, it will not be
behind the counter but on the other side in line with the
other members.
A big thank you to all the staff and members that made
my time with the Credit Union such a memorable one.
Sunspot • Spring 2009
Sherry VanBilsen
Tony Gioiosa, General Manager, is pleased to
announce the appointment of Sherry VanBilsen as the
new Exmouth Manager.
Like most teenagers, Sherry was unsure of her career
path. High school offered the perfect opportunity for
her to try out different avenues through their Co-op
placement program. The school sent her to Moore
Credit Union on Exmouth Street. At the time, Sherry did
not even know what a Credit Union was. She enjoyed
the experience and was soon hired as a part-time teller.
When she graduated high school she was hired as a
full-time teller. Throughout her tenure she has been
held the Teller and Loans Clerk and most recently,
Loans Officer position. When hired, Sherry was the
youngest staff member and now due to the length of
her employment, feels like she is the “old” one. Many
members will remember photos of her graduation,
wedding and the birth of her two children. Just as
her family has grown over the years, she has had the
privilege of watching the Credit Union grow.
Congratulations Sherry on your new position.
Need extra money
for renovations, repairs,
debt consolidation?
Not sure about lending fees or
hidden costs? Want to save money
on interest costs?
Southwest Regional is offering their Secured
Home Equity Line of Credit rates as low as
3.00%*. Talk to one of our Financial Solution
Specialists today.
*Rates based as of April 6, 2009. Certain conditions apply.
Please join us at
Sawmill Creek
Golf Resort
Please join us for the
12th Annual
CNIB
Walk
Sunday May 2, 2009
Canatara Park
12 pm to 3 pm
Sunspot • Spring 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
as together we co-host the Sarnia
Chamber Business After 5.